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United States Government Accountability Office: GAO:
Presentation by:
The Honorable David M. Walker:
Comptroller General of the United States:
Keeping America Great: Doing Your Part:
Gortner Lecture:
George Mason University:
Department of Public and International Affairs: Fairfax, VA:
October 2, 2007:
GAO-08-152CG:
President Merten, Director Posner, distinguished members of the
faculty, students, ladies, and gentlemen. It is an honor to be with you
this afternoon and I thank you for giving me this opportunity to
address you.
Lately, I've been speaking out about our nation's future. During the
past two years, I have traveled to 22 states as part of the Fiscal
Wake- up Tour. In addition, I've appeared on a number of major radio
and television programs this year to talk about the growing fiscal
challenge facing America. You may have heard me on the Diane Rehm Show
or perhaps you saw me on the CBS news program "60 Minutes" or on Comedy
Central's "Colbert Report." The facts don't change during these
appearances, but the means and messages do, depending on the venue and
target audience.
The agency that I have the honor to lead--the Government Accountability
Office, or GAO--is in the truth and transparency business. Or as
Stephen Colbert would say, we're all about combating "truthiness." As
the so-called "investigative arm of Congress," GAO is in the oversight,
insight, and foresight business. We "speak truth to power," and we try
to make government work better and for the benefit of all Americans.
In my view, it's important to state the facts and speak the truth to
the American people in connection with our fiscal situation and other
important public policy issues. Too many television and radio programs
today are essentially "fact-free zones," full of opinion, ideological
rhetoric, and partisan spin. In America, we believe in free speech. As
a result, everyone is entitled to their opinion but not their own
facts. The facts are neither blue nor red. In reality, facts are
colorless and should be transparent.
Today, I'm pleased and honored to spend a few minutes speaking to you
on the importance of keeping America great. I firmly believe that each
of us can play a part to help ensure that our individual and collective
future is better than our past. After all, our nation's future is what
you and I and our fellow citizens make of it. That why our constitution
starts with the words "We the people."
From a personal perspective, while the Walker family has been in
America since the late 1600s, to my knowledge, I'm only the second
person in my Walker line to have graduated from college. Before my
father, most of the Walkers were mineworkers, farmers, or ministers.
Despite my family's modest beginnings, I now have the good fortune of
being the seventh Comptroller General of the United States and head of
the GAO. Only in America!
From a broader perspective, clearly America is a great country,
possibly the greatest in history. We've risen from one of many colonies
ruled by England to become the world's only current superpower. We're
the longest standing republic on Earth and a beacon of liberty for the
rest of the world. Those Americans like myself who have traveled
extensively overseas know that, while our country is far from perfect,
in general, we have it pretty good today. Yes, Americans have much to
be proud of and much to be thankful for.
America is number one in many things but not all things. As a result,
while Americans have a right to be proud, we should never be arrogant.
Unfortunately, the world has seen more than a little American arrogance
of late, both domestically and internationally. That must change. After
all, whether we're talking about safeguarding public health, protecting
the environment, or combating international terrorism, the United
States can't go it alone. We're going to have to partner for progress
on these and other types of issues, which have no geo-political
boundaries.
Let there be no doubt, America's true strength is its people. America
is a very diverse nation, and our diversity is a great asset--an asset
we have yet to fully capitalize on. Despite our diversity, we Americans
are united by our belief in equal opportunity. Through perseverance and
hard work, any of us can achieve a better life. Our love of freedom is
equaled only by our devotion to faith and family.
While America is a great nation, we face a range of large and growing
sustainability challenges that too few policymakers are taking
seriously. In so many areas--fiscal policy, foreign policy, health
care, education, energy, the environment, immigration, our
infrastructure, and Iraq--we're on an unsustainable path. I'll briefly
touch on three of these areas to prove my point.
First, since America's most valuable asset is its people, I'll start
with education. The United States now has the best higher education
system in the world. All of you are the beneficiaries of that system.
Unfortunately, we're not even in the top 20 nations in math and science
scores at the high-school level. This represents a huge problem in a
knowledge-based economy. If our country expects to maintain its
standard of living, we're going to have to stay competitive on measures
like innovation, productivity, and product quality. Fixing our K-12
education system will require radical reform and concerted efforts by
all levels of government and all sectors of our economy. We must move
beyond rhetoric and start delivering real results for a broader
spectrum of the American population.
Second, our nation's fiscal outlook. While short-term federal deficits
are coming down, we face large and growing longer-range deficits and
debt burdens due primarily to the retirement of the "baby boom"
generation and rising health care costs. The retirement of the boomers
will begin in three months, and when boomers begin to retire en masse
it will bring a tsunami of spending that could swamp our ship of state.
Congress recently debated raising the debt limit and it was just raised
for a fifth time during the past 5 ½ years to about $9.8 trillion. Yes,
I said trillion! While debate on this issue is understandable and
appropriate, it's time that we started treating the disease rather than
merely debating the symptoms. This country has been diagnosed with
fiscal cancer. This cancer can be cured with tough choices but it will
get worse over time if our elected officials fail to act. This fiscal
cancer is manifested in large operating deficits and growing long-range
fiscal imbalances. It is perpetuated by a lack of meaningful statutory
budget controls, a very large and growing percentage of the budget that
is on autopilot, a failure to pursue performance based approaches in
connection with major spending programs and the tax preferences, and a
variety of other current practices. These conditions are inappropriate
and unsustainable. Hopefully, a capable, credible, and bi-partisan
commission or task force will be formed to "set the operating table"
for the next President and the next Congress in connection with these
and other important matters.
To help save our future, we must impose tough budget controls, reform
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and reprioritize and constrain
other spending. We also need to engage in comprehensive tax reform that
will not undercut our economic growth or competitive advantage while
raising additional revenues. We must do all of these things and the
sooner the better because time is working against us and our debt clock
is ticking. Fortunately, there are several bills pending in Congress
now to create a task force or commission to address the issue of fiscal
sustainability and intergenerational equity. No matter what form or
organization such a group would take, it should have a statutory basis,
be bipartisan, involve leaders from both the executive and legislative
branch, and require a super-majority vote for any recommendations to be
sent to the President and the Congress. It should also require an
expeditious and up or down vote in the Congress. In addition, its
primary objective should be to make the tough choices necessary to Keep
America Great, and to help make sure that our country's, our
children's, and our grandchildren's future is better than our past.
Hopefully, these Congressional bills will be given serious and timely
consideration by the Congress and the President.
Many young people think that Social Security won't be around when you
retire, but they're wrong. It will be reformed, and hopefully sooner
rather than later. Our real problem is Medicare, Medicaid, and health
care in general. Our health care system is badly broken. We're now
number one in the world in health care spending and obesity - facts
that don't bode well for our wallets or our waistlines. Despite
spending huge amounts on medical care, the United States has above
average infant mortality, below average life expectancy, and much
higher than average medical error rates for an industrialized nation.
We also have the largest percentage of uninsured individuals of any
major nation. It's pretty clear we're not getting very good value for
our health care dollars. Frankly, if there's one thing that could
bankrupt America, it's health care costs.
Comprehensive health care reform will probably need to occur in
installments over a number of years. Our goals should be fourfold:
First, provide universal access to basic and essential health care.
Second, impose limits on federal spending for health care. Third,
implement national evidence based medical practice standards to improve
quality, control costs, and reduce litigation risks, while avoiding
heroic measures. And finally, take steps to ensure that all Americans
assume more personal responsibility and accountability for their own
health and wellness.
One thing is clear: young people will pay the price and bear the burden
if others fail to act to address our mounting fiscal burden and other
sustainability challenges. More importantly, I'm talking about these
challenges here at GMU because the students enrolled in this program
are likely to become the future leaders of our country! As a result,
you are our greatest hope for bringing about change.
Unfortunately, many institutions and individuals in America today
suffer from several afflictions: myopia, tunnel vision, and self-
centeredness--just to name three. Too many people are focused on the
word "me" rather than the word "we." Too many people are focused on
what they want today rather than what they need to do to help ensure a
better future. And too many people are focused on their own narrow
interests rather than the greater good. Furthermore, too many elected
officials suffer from "mural dyslexia" or the inability to read the
handwriting on the wall.
Ignorance, apathy and arrogance can be fatal when it comes to a nation
and its people. The Roman Republic provided us with some important
lessons in this regard over 1500 years ago.
Let us not forget, the Roman Republic fell for many reasons, but three
seem to resonate today. First, a decline in moral values and political
civility at home. Second, an over-confident and over-extended military
in foreign lands. Third, fiscal irresponsibility by the central
government. Sound familiar? We must learn from history and make sure
that we are the first republic to stand the test of time.
In our constitutional democracy, it's "we the people" who are
ultimately responsible and accountable for what does or does not happen
in the capitals around our country. As a result, all of us must be
informed and involved in order to make a difference. We must not
forget, God put each of us on this earth to serve our fellow man and to
make a difference for others.
For those of you who are students, are early in your career, or even
those of you who are more seasoned, as you look to the future, each of
you needs to search your head and your heart to decide how you're going
to make a difference on this earth. This is one of life's most
important decisions. When you search your head and heart in your
pursuit of happiness, don't forget your communities, your country and
your fellow man. To help build a better future, I ask that each of you
dedicate at least two years of your life to serving others.
When you consider your public service options, remember that the U.S.
government is the largest, the most diverse, and, arguably, the most
important entity on the face of the earth. We need top talent in the
federal government to successfully address our many sustainability
challenges. Yes, the federal government needs men and women with skills
in public affairs, business, and other fields from top universities
like George Mason.
I also ask that each of you become more informed about the issues
facing our nation and more involved in demanding change. It's time we
held current and prospective elected officials accountable for
upholding their fiduciary and stewardship responsibilities to our
country and its citizens.
One person clearly can make a difference in today's world. My favorite
20TH century president, Theodore Roosevelt, is proof of that. TR, as
he's often called, was someone with character, conscience, and
conviction.
As our 26th and youngest president, he was an optimist who firmly
believed in the potential of government to improve the life of every
citizen. As a trustbuster, TR took on some of the nation's more
powerful and ethically challenged corporate interests. And he won. As
an environmentalist, TR left us with a legacy of great national parks
like Yosemite. As an internationalist, he led peace talks to end the
Russo-Japanese War. In fact, TR is the only American to have won both
the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Nobel Peace Prize.
TR firmly believed that it was every American's responsibility to be
active in our civic life. As he said, "Fighting for the right [cause]
is the noblest sport the world affords." Democracy is hard work but
it's work worth doing. And that's really at the heart of my message
tonight. How America looks in the future is largely up to us. It's you,
I and our fellow citizens who are ultimately responsible for what does
or does not happen in Washington.
In closing, in addition to reflecting over the presidency of TR, I've
also been studying the life of George Washington, particularly his two
terms as President. What's often overlooked is that George Washington
was a great believer in fiscal discipline. In his farewell address in
1796, Washington spoke to the issue of public debt. He urged the new
nation to avoid "ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden which
we ourselves ought to bear." This advice is as sound today as it was
over 200 years ago. By ignoring George Washington's words of wisdom and
postponing difficult policy decisions, our government is, in fact,
making a choice--a choice with unacceptable fiscal and ethical
consequences.
We can and must do better than the path of least resistance. The road
less traveled won't always be easy, but it's a journey that our
children, grandchildren, and future generations of Americans will thank
us for taking. I hope you'll join with me in stating the facts,
speaking the truth, and acting to help save our collective future. All
of you should find your cause in life and fight to make a difference.
I'll continue to try and do my part. All that I ask is that you do your
best to do your part to keep America great. We can, we must, and, with
your help, we will do what it takes to keep America great!:
May God bless each of you, George Mason University, and the United
States of America.
[End of presentation]
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Copyright:
This is a work of the U.S. government and is not subject to copyright
protection in the United States. The published product may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without further permission
from GAO. However, because this work may contain copyrighted images or
other material, permission from the copyright holder may be necessary
if you wish to reproduce this material separately.